In the words of Happy Pot co-founder Chris Mercieca, “Our mission [is] to make the world a happier place, one pot at a time.” Fun designs, sustainable practices and a young and energetic team composed of two friends from Gozo make for a pretty happiness-spreading recipe.
Launched in 2022, Happy Pots – led by Chris and fellow co-founder Gorg Vella – has been on a path towards changing the short-term use of commonplace and often-discarded plant pots through a creative and environmentally-conscious alternative. The initiative has struck a chord in Malta’s business community – the brand successfully secured funding on Shark Tank Malta and placed second in last year’s edition of start-up competition Pitchora.
Using 3D printing technology, Happy Pots creates and manufactures its own products featuring lively designs; from smiley face pots to planters fixed with spinning attachments, and most recently, pots shaped after the traditional luzzu fishing boat as “a tribute to our seafaring island nation”. The brand prides itself on customisability – the badge occupied by the smiley face above could be fitted with any design imaginable, including a company logo for a bespoke corporate gift.
Happy Pot manufactures its products out of PLA (Polylactic Acid), a sustainable material derived from renewable resources such as cornstarch and sugarcane.
“PLA is biodegradable in industrial composting conditions, meaning it naturally breaks down into harmless compounds, reducing environmental impact and contributing to a greener future. If kept indoors and away from extreme temperatures, PLA products can last for decades,” according to the brand.
Taking their commitment to sustainability a step further and placing it at the heart of what they do, the co-founders pledge to plant a tree for every pot sold.
In a video posted to social media last October to mark its first anniversary, the brand announced it had sold just over 2,000 pots, and planted the equivalent in trees through a partnership with Treeapp to support tree-planting projects in 13 developing countries around the world.
“Our goal is to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2030, which will support over 60,000 species and offset 26,000 tonnes of C02 each year.”
Product photography: Happy Pot
